Wednesday Ashes

While I have been thinking about Ash Wednesday, I have done nothing about it. (read: religious angst that I don't have time for). I feel like I should *do* lent this year, just for myself (read: remember my Catholic upbringing and actually give something (like bad food) up for 47 days), but I have done nothing about it. I also ate bologna for lunch.

AWP was good for me; I did not overload on the conference. Mornings I did panels or the bookfair (I agree with everyone, it was crazy, but 3 rooms/floors helped make it managable), afternoons were at museums or a show. Highlights include:
--Whitney Museum
--Ron Carlson (how can you not love Ron?)
--MOMA (especially the squash soup at the cafe)
--John Irving (arguably the best talk I've ever heard at AWP)
--Whole Foods
--Winning a bet from Papatya
--Seeing lots and lots of good friends

I have made mental promises about writing more, writing better, getting back to submitting poems, but I also know that sometimes I delude myself that I will find more time to do this. Spending so little time with my kids is heartbreaking; how have women done this for 50 years?

But I have a plan. As Yoda and some other good folks I know have said, do, or do not: there is no try. So either do it, or give myself permission to take a break. I will contemplate this. Maybe this is what Lent is for.